John 7:30
What does John 7:30 mean?
A plain-English look at John 7:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 7:30 means
They attempt to seize Jesus, but no one lays a hand on Him because His hour has not yet come. Human hostility meets divine sovereignty. The leaders can desire, plan, and move, but they cannot overrule God’s appointed time. This restraint is not luck; it is providence. The verse assures that Jesus will lay down His life, but not be taken before the hour ordained by the Father. His path to the cross will be voluntary and timely. The unseen hand of God guards the mission until its fulfillment, even as hostility surges.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They sought therefore to take him: and no man laid his hand on him, because his hour was not yet come.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They sought therefore to take him: and no man laid his hand on him, because his hour was not yet come.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then they had a desire to take him: but no man put hands on him because his hour was still to come.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862They were seeking, therefore, to seize him, and no one laid the hand on him, because his hour had not yet come,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752They sought therefore to apprehend him: and no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890They sought therefore to take him; and no one laid his hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.
Context
Following Jesus’ bold claims of divine origin and sending, the authorities’ desire to arrest Him intensifies. Yet they are thwarted by God’s timing. In contrast to their impotence, many in the crowd move toward faith, asking whether any future Christ could surpass His signs (verse 31). This juxtaposition of frustrated malice and budding belief prepares for official action: the Pharisees and chief priests send officers to arrest Him (verse 32).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 8:37
I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you.
- Luke 22:53
When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
- John 10:39
They sought again to take him: and he went forth out of their hand.
- Luke 19:47
And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him:
- John 11:9
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
- Mark 11:18
And the chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, for all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
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